Working with a co-worker who does his best to make you look bad can be a stressful, frustrating experience. While you might like to behave just as antagonistically as the backstabber, it’s important to protect your reputation by remaining calm and professional. If you react emotionally, your boss might decide that you are just as much to blame as your colleague. Develop a strategy that will help you handle the sabotage and prevent it from harming your reputation at work.

1. Identify the factors that usually precipitate an attack. When you know what sets off your colleague, you can prepare a strategy that stops the sabotage. For instance, you might find that your colleague gets jealous if you are asked to represent your department at an important meeting or if you are assigned to work on a key project.

2. Use the information you’ve obtained to create your plan. If your colleague has interrupted your presentation at previous meetings and publicly disputed your statements, be prepared. Anticipate any objections and prepare responses that will support your position. When you calmly explain your point of view using facts, your colleague might be forced to back down.

3. Talk to your colleague about his behavior in a non-confrontational way. Tell him that you noticed that he had a problem with your work, and you would like to understand his concerns. Say that you expect him to come to you with concerns instead of speaking to your supervisor or airing complaints and criticism publicly. Whether he acknowledges his behavior or not, you’ve alerted him that you know that he is sabotaging you, and that you are not afraid to address his behavior.

4. Praise your colleague when he does a good job. Although it might be difficult to find anything nice to say about him, make an effort to acknowledge his work. If he views you as a supportive colleague, he might be less likely to continue his behavior.

5. Speak to your supervisor if you aren’t able to stop the sabotage. Calmly explain your concerns without insulting your co-worker. Explain the facts and ask for your supervisor’s advice.

6. Take steps to prevent sabotage. Password-protect your computer so your colleague cannot access and alter documents. Save copies of e-mails, memos and letters. Take home copies of important documents if you fear that your colleague might steal or hide them.

7. Form relationships with others in your company. When other employees know that you are a conscientious employee, they might be less likely to believe any lies the backstabber spreads ... and be more likely to support you.

Tip

A colleague who enjoys sabotaging your efforts might have a reputation for such behavior. Reach out to co-workers who’ve had problems with the colleague in the past and ask how they’ve handled the sabotage.

Warning

Don’t be surprised if the backstabber reverts to his old behavior after stopping the sabotage for a period of time. A co-worker who resorts to sabotage as a way of coping might find it hard to deal with colleagues in any other way.